Artificial hand



Oct. 8, 16.

P. A. REBERS v 2,408,880

ARTIFICIAL HAND Filed April 28, 1943 2 Sheets-Shet l /C/ci/ 39 /IvvEN-ToH404 A/QEBEES y fym ATTORNEYS www P. A. REBERS ARTIFICIAL HAND 'f s,i946.

Filed April 28, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I /A/vE/vorzeV Bqz/L [4.1655565@$4 Patented Oct. 8, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 5 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in artiiiciallimbs and more particularly to artificial hands.

An object of the present invention is to provide an artificial handhaving means for operatively attaching it to the stump of the forearmand to the upper arm in such a manner that the operation of the lingersof the hand may be accurately and conveniently controlled by a slightmovement of the arm.

A further object is to provide an artificial hand comprising a fixedfinger member, and a relatively movable nger member having means foroperating it to move it towards or away from the fixed nger, as whenpicking up articles or releasing them, and means being provided wherebythe plane of the xed and movable fingers may be rotatively adjusted withrespect to the supporting member of the apparatus by a simple movementof the operators arm, whereby the fingers may readily and convenientlybe posi-` tioned to pick up various articles without the necessity ofthe wearer using his other or good hand, as is common with variousdevices of this general type now in use.

A further and more specific object is to provide an articial handcomprising a U-shaped supporting member having a bearing at its lowerend for rotatively receiving a shaft having a sleeve secured to one endthereof adapted to receive and be secured to the stump of the forearm,said supporting member having strap-like bars or legs disposed atopposite sides of the forearm, and having sections pivoted to the upperends thereof in alignment with the elbow, said upper ends having meansfor securing them to the upper arm thereby to operatively secure thedevice to the wearers arm, and a finger member being mounted for rotaryadjustment on said bearing,

and having a relatively movable linger member pivoted thereto, and meansbeing provided whereby the rotary adjustment of said fingers withrespect to the sup-porting member may be accomplished by a combinedmovement of the wearers forearm and shoulder.

Other objects of the invention reside in the simple and inexpensiveconstruction of the device, as a whole, whereby it may be manufacturedin quantity production at small cost; in the provision of an artificialhand having means for readily and conveniently mounting it upon the armof the wearer, and whereby the coacting ngers of the device may beconveniently manipulated to pick up or release various articles byrotary movement of the forearm with respect to the supporting means; andin the unique mounting of the co-acting fingers upon the supportingmember, whereby said ngers may be readily rotatively adjusted withrespect to the supporting member by a movement of the arm, thereby tofacilitate positioning the fingers with respect to an article or to thework to be accomplished.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription and accompanying drawings and will be pointed out in theannexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed a structuredesigned to carry out the various objects of the invention, but it is tobe understood that the invention is not confined to the exact featuresshown as various changes may be made within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a front View of the device showing it mounted on an arm;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail View showing the unique mounting of thenger members upon the lower end of the support;

Figure 3 is a view showing the forearm receiving sleeve rotated in adirection to open or separate the lingers;

Figure 4 is a detail sectional view on a relatively larger scale, tomore clearly illustrate the mounting for the fingers upon the lower endof the supporting member;

Figure 5 is a side view of Figure l; Figure 6 is an enlarged detailsectional View showing the cam actuated to open or separate wardly alongthe inner and outer sides of the forearm 5, and have upper sections 8pivotally connected thereto by pivots l, as best shownin Figures 1 and5. The axes of the pivots 'l are aligned with the elbow joint, asclearly illustrated in Figures l and 5 to permit free bending of theelbow. The upper sections 6 5 are adapted to be secured to the upper arm8 by a suitable jacket 9 to which they may be secured by such means asrivets ill. The jacket B is adapted to encircle the arm, and has strapsIl for strapping it to 3 the wearers arm, as is more or less common inthe art.

To prevent the jacket 9 from sliding down on the wearers arm, a suitableharness, generally designated by the numeral I2, is provided. Thisharness has a strap I3 connecting it to the inner section 6 of thesupporting member. The opposite side of the harness I2 is shown having astrap I4 engaging the opposite arm I5 of the wearer whereby the harnessis supported on the shoulders in such a manner that the strap i3connecting the harness to the upper inner section 6 of `the supportingmember 2 will always retain the jacket 9 in proper position upon theupper arm of the wearer.

The connecting portion 3 of the supporting member 2 is preferably formedwith an enlarged central portion`3 as shown in Figure 7 An opening I isprovided in the enlarged central portion 3 adapted to receive thereduced portion I6 of a bearing member Il, and whereby the bearing maybe lixedly secured in the opening I5 of the connecting portion 3 of thesupporting member 2, as will be understood by reference to Figure 4.

A short shaft I8 is rotatably received in the bearing Il and is shownprovided at its upper end with a flange I9 to which a U-shaped member ZIis secured by such means as a screw 22. The U-shaped member 2| providesa support for a sleeve 23 adapted to receive the stump 24 of the forearm5, as clearly illustrated in Figures l and 4. The wall of the sleeve 23has an elongated opening provided with suitable lacings 25, whereby thesleeve may be snugly fitted `to the stump, as will readily be understoodby reference to Figures l and 5.

A plate 26, preferably circular in conguration, is rotatably mounted onthe enlarged portion 2 of the bearing l, and is retained thereon by alock nut 28 and washer 29. A suitable spacing Washer 3l may beinterposed between the enlarged central portion 3 of the supportingmember 2 and the plate 26, as best shown in Figure 4.

The plate 26 is provided with a series of peripheral notches 32 adaptedto receive One end of a dog shown pivoted at 34 to a suitable stud 35which may be suitably secured to the connecting portion 3 of thesupporting member 2, as shown in Figures 4 and 7. The dog 33 has aspring 36, as shown in Figure 2, for constantly urging it intoengagement with one of the notches 32 in the plate 26.

A linger member 36 has one end xedly secured to the plate 26 and isprovided with a gripping head or claw 31 adapted to cO-act with asimilarly shaped head or claw 38 provided on a relatively movable fingermember 39. The movable iinger member 39 is pivoted to the fixed finger35 by a pivot 4I. Because of the fixed linger 36 being carried directlyby the rotatively adjustable plate 26, the iixed finger may berelatively rotated about the axis of the shaft I8 without impartingrotation to said shaft.

A cam plate 42 is xedly secured to the lower end of. the shaft I8 bysuitable lock nutsv 43 and 44. The cam plate 42 has an arcuately formedcam slot 45 therein adapted to receive an antifriction roller l5provided on the upper or short end 4'! of the iinger 39. The cam slot 45is so shaped with respect to the swinging movement of the roller 46 thatthe roller will substantially follow the cam, when the cam is relativelyrotated by rotation of the shaft I8, as when the forearm 5 is relativelyrotated with respect to the supporting member 2. The cam plate 42 isadjustably 4 secured to the threaded end portion 5I of the shaft IB bythe lock nuts 43 and 44. By reference to Figure 4 it will be noted thatthe circular plate 26 to which the ixed finger 36 is secured, isnormally locked against rotary movement as a result of the dog 33 beingengaged with one of the peripheral notches 32 in the plate 26.

By reference to Figures 3 and 4, it will be noted that the pivotedfinger 39 may be readily and conveniently oscillated with respect to thelixed member 36 by rotation of the cam 42, as when the shaft I8 isrotated by rotary movement of the forearm. When the forearm is rotatedin one direction, or from the position shown in Figure 4 to that shownin Figure 3, the lingers 36 and 39 will separate or open up, as shown inFigure 3, whereby they may grip an article. Rotation of the forearm inthe opposite direction will move the head or claw 38 of the movablelinger 39 into engagement with the head or claw 3l of the fixed finger36. Thus, it will be seen that the operation of the pivoted finger 39may be accurately and conveniently controlled by a slight rotarymovement of the stump 24 of the wearers forearm 5.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the means providedfor relatively changing the plane of the co-acti'ng lingers 36 and 39with respect to the supporting member 2, thereby to facilitatepositioning the finger claws or terminals 31 and 38 with respect to anobject to be picked up, or to the work to be performed by .the lingers.

To thus rotatively adjust the angular position of the lingers withrespect to the supporting member 2, a cord 53 is shown having one endsecured to the dog 33 and passes thru guide loops or eyes 54 and 55provided respectively on ythe outer leg 4 of the supporting member 2 andits upper pivoted section 6, as clearly illustrated in Figures l and 5.From the guide 55 the cord 53 passes around back of the Lipper arm 8,and is secured at 56 to one end of a strap 51 of the harness I2. Thestrap 51 may pass over one of the wearers shoulders, as clearlyillustrated in Figure 1.

The cord 53 is so arranged that when the wearer slightly moves hisforearm 5 with respect to his upper arm 8, a pull is exerted on the cord53 which moves the dog 33 out of locking engagement with the notch plate26, whereby said plate may be freely rotatably adjusted about the axisof the shaft I8, as will readily be understood by reference to Figures 4and 6.

In the operation of the novel apparatus herein disclosed, the operationof the finger members 36 and 39 is accomplished entirely by rotarymovement of the stump 24 of the forearm. Should the terminal grippingheads or claws 31 and 38 of the fingers 36 and 39, respectively, not beproperly positioned with respect to the article to be picked up, or tothe work to be performed, the operator may quickly rotate the fingermembers about the axis of the shaft I8 by a slight combined movement ofthe forearm and shoulder.

To thus relatively rotate the fingers 36 and 33 Y with respect to thesupporting member 2, a slight to the proper angle with respect to thework, the wearer manipulates his arm and/or shoulder in such a manner asto permit the dog again to engage one of the notches 32 in the plate 26,whereby the fingers will be locked against rotary movement with respectto the supporting member 2, as will be understood.

It will thus be noted that the operation of the fingers 36 and 39 isunder complete control of the operators arm at all times, which rendersthe artificial hand more useful and practical than structures of thisgeneral type now in common use.

It will also be noted that the entire apparatus is very simple andinexpensive in construction whereby it may be manufactured in quantityproduction at small cost which is a highly desirable feature in devicesof this general type.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I. haveaccomplished at least the principal objects of my invention, and it willalso be apparent to those skilled in the art that the embodiments hereindescribed may be variously changed and modified, without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of usesand has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will beappreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments are' illustrativeonly, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim as my invention:

l. In an artificial hand, a supporting member adapted to be secured toan arm above the elbow, a shaft rotatably mounted in the lower end ofthe support, a sleeve secured to one end of the shaft adapted to receivethe stump of the forearm, a notched plate mounted for rotary adjustmentabout the axis of said shaft, a springactuated dog engageable with thenotched plate for locking it in adjusted position on the supportingmember, a finger member fixed to the plate, a second finger membermounted for pivotal movement on the fixed finger, means for actuatingsaid movable finger upon rotation of said shaft, and a harness supportedon the shoulders of the wearer and having an operative connection withsaid dog whereby the dog may be moved out of locking engagement with thenotched plate by movement of the arm and shoulder, thereby to permit thefingers to be rotatively adjusted with respect to the shaft tofacilitate positioning the fingers with respect to the article or workto be performed, by rotation of the forearm relative to the support.

2. In a device of the class described, a U shaped supporting membercomprising upper and lower portions pivotally connected together at theelbow of the arm, the upper portion having means for securing it to theupper arm and the lower portion having a bearing secured thereto, asleeve adapted to receive the stump of the forearm, a shaft secured atone end of said sleeve, said shaft being rotatably mounted in saidbearing, a cam secured to the opposite end of the shaft for directrotation with the shaft, a notched plate mounted for rotary adjustmenton said bearing and with respect to said supporting member, a dogmounted on the supporting member and engageable with the notches in saidplate to lock the plate in adjusted position on the supporting member, afinger member fixed to thev notched plate, a second finger memberpivoted to the fixed finger and having one end operatively engaged beactuated by combined movement of the forearm and shoulder` to releasethe plate whereby the plane of the fingers may be rotatively adjustedwith respect to the supporting member by means of a rotary movement ofthe forearm to facilitate positioning the fingers with respect to thearticle to be picked up or the work to be pern formed.

3. In an artificial hand, a supporting member adapted to be secured toan arm above the elbow, a shaft rotatably mounted in the lower end ofthe support, a sleeve secured to one end of said shaft adapted toreceive the stump of the forearm, a cam secured to the opposite end ofsaid shaft for direct rotation therewith, a notched plate mounted forrotary adjustment with respect to said 'supporting member about the axisof said shaft, a dog mounted on the supporting member and engageablewith the notches in said plate to lock the plate in a plurality ofadjusted positions on the supporting member, a fixed finger membercarried by said plate, a movable finger member pivoted to said fixedfinger and carried thereby, said movable nger member having one endoperatively engaged with said cam so as to be moved thereby on rotationof said shaft and sleeve, and means for actuating said dog by a combinedmovement of the forearm and shoulder to release said plate and permitrotary adjustment of said plate through forces applied by a rotarymovement of the forearm through said finger members to said plate.

4. In an artificial hand, a supporting member adapted to be secured toan arm above the elbow, a shaft rotatably mounted in the lower end ofthe support, a sleeve secured to one end of said shaft adapted toreceive the stump of the forearm, a cam secured to the opposite end ofsaid shaft for direct rotation therewith, a notched plate mounted forrotary adjustment ywith respect to said supporting member about the axisof said shaft, a dog mounted on the supporting member and engageablewith the notches in said plate to lock the plate in a plurality ofadjusted positions on the supporting member, a pair of finger memberscarried by said plate and mounted for relative pivotal movement, one ofsaid finger members being operatively engaged with said cam so as to bemoved thereby on rotation of said shaft and sleeve, and means extendingfrom said dog to a relatively fixed point on the wearers shoulder foractuating said dog by a combined movement of the forearm. and shoulderto release said plate and permit rotary adjustment of said plate throughforces applied by a rotary movement of the forearm through and fingermembers to 'said plate.

5. The artificial hand of claim 3 further characterized in that saidforces for rotatively adjusting the notched plate are transmitted fromthe forearm through the sleeve to the shaft and cam carried thereby andfrom said cam through the movable nger to the fixed finger to the plate.

PAUL A. REBERS.

o with said cam and means whereby Said dog may

